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Gradebook · France

French Grading Coefficient System — Weighted Moyenne Calculator

In the French lycée system, not all subjects count equally. Each subject carries a coefficient that determines its weight in the overall coefficient-weighted moyenne. Philosophy at coefficient 8 in a Terminale L class has four times the impact of a coefficient-2 language subject. OpenEduCat stores the fr_coeff for every subject and computes the weighted moyenne automatically — ensuring the correct Mention and DNB eligibility calculation without manual effort.

Subject Coefficient Examples by Series

Key subjects and their coefficients across the major Baccalauréat series, including post-2021 reform speciality and Grand Oral coefficients.

SubjectSeries / TrackCoefficientNotes
PhilosophieTerminale L (Littéraire)8Highest coefficient subject in Terminale L. A 18/20 here contributes 144 points vs. a 20/20 in a coeff-1 elective contributing only 20 points.
MathématiquesTerminale S (Scientifique)7Mathematics dominates the S series moyenne. A 12/20 in Maths at coeff 7 contributes more than a 20/20 in History-Geography at coeff 3.
Spécialité choisie (2021 réforme)Terminale Générale16Under the 2021 Bac reform, students choose two speciality subjects in Terminale, each carrying coeff 8. Together they are the single largest driver of the overall moyenne.
Enseignement Moral et Civique (EMC)All series1Lowest-weight compulsory subject. A perfect score has minimal impact on the overall moyenne. A weak score in EMC barely moves the needle compared to any high-coefficient subject.
Grand Oral (2021 réforme)Terminale Générale10Introduced by the 2021 reform. The Grand Oral assesses students on one of their speciality subjects. Its coefficient 10 makes it one of the most impactful elements of the final Bac moyenne.
Éducation Physique et Sportive (EPS)All series (contrôle continu)6EPS is now assessed entirely by continuous control under the 2021 reform. Its coefficient 6 is higher than many academic subjects, making physical education a significant factor in the Bac moyenne.

Source: Ministère de l'Éducation nationale et de la Jeunesse — Baccalauréat général réforme 2021, coefficient tables by série and matière.

How OpenEduCat Computes the Coefficient-Weighted Moyenne

The five-step computation from subject coefficient configuration to automatic Mention assignment — all handled within the France gradebook module.

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Step 1 — Assign fr_coeff to Each Subject

Each subject in OpenEduCat carries an fr_coeff value. This is configured at the school and series level. Philosophy for a Terminale L student is set to fr_coeff = 8; an optional elective language might be fr_coeff = 1. Coefficients reflect the official Ministère de l'Éducation scale for the student's series and year.

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Step 2 — Enter fr_note (0–20) per Subject

Teachers enter the student's note for each subject on the 0–20 scale. For continuous-control subjects (EPS, EMC), the note is entered per trimester or per assessment event. For written exam subjects, the note comes from the exam session result.

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Step 3 — Compute the Weighted Sum

OpenEduCat multiplies each fr_note by its fr_coeff to produce the weighted score for each subject. Example: Philosophy 15/20 at coeff 8 → weighted score = 120. Mathematics 12/20 at coeff 5 → weighted score = 60. All weighted scores are summed across subjects.

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Step 4 — Divide by Total Coefficient

The total weighted score is divided by the sum of all fr_coeff values (not the count of subjects). This produces the coefficient-weighted fr_moyenne on the 0–20 scale. Example: if the total weighted score is 340 and the total coefficient is 24, the fr_moyenne is 340 ÷ 24 = 14.17, which maps to Mention Bien.

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Step 5 — Assign fr_mention

The computed fr_moyenne is compared against the Mention thresholds: ≥16 → Très Bien, ≥14 → Bien, ≥12 → Assez Bien, ≥10 → Passable, <10 → Insuffisant. The fr_mention field is updated automatically. If the student falls in the 8–9.9 band, the rattrapage eligibility flag is also set.

DNB Eligibility — Coefficient Weighting in 3ème

The Diplôme National du Brevet uses a dual-component scoring system for 3ème students, with subject coefficients applying within the school assessment component.

400 points maximum

School Assessment Component

Continuous-assessment grades across all 3ème subjects, weighted by subject coefficient. French, Mathematics, History-Geography, and Science carry the highest coefficients. OpenEduCat tracks this component automatically throughout the year.

300 points maximum

Written Exam Component

Written exams in French, Mathematics, and History-Geography/Civic Education (EMC). Results are entered from the June exam session. Coefficient weighting applies within this component by subject.

100 points maximum

Oral Exam Component

An oral presentation on a project connected to one or more subjects. The score is entered by the examining teacher. Total score (school + written + oral) must reach 400/800 for DNB award.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the French subject coefficient system and weighted moyenne calculation.

The French coefficient system reflects a deliberate weighting of subjects according to their importance in each series. In Terminale L (Littéraire), Philosophy is weighted highest (coeff 8) because it is considered the capstone subject of the literary humanities track. In Terminale S (Scientifique), Mathematics carries the highest weight. This means a student cannot compensate for weak performance in their core subjects by excelling in low-weight electives. The coefficient system ensures the overall moyenne accurately reflects mastery of the student's chosen academic track.

Eliminate coefficient calculation errors in your lycée

OpenEduCat stores subject coefficients at configuration level and computes the coefficient-weighted moyenne automatically — ensuring correct Mention assignment, DNB eligibility, and rattrapage flags without manual calculation.